Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 280

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 280

Episode 280. Ravenhil (7)

There’s a saying that even rolling in a dung field is better than the afterlife.

But Zahhar absolutely disagreed with this.

Rather than living as Cockatrice’s Tail, it would be better to die.

The fact that he, who was once a dragon, had now fallen to being a tail part of a chimera.

That humiliation gnawed at his pride every moment.

However.

‘If I cooperate well, he’ll make me a dragon again?’

That one statement from Hodupayi.

Though it was practically half a threat, Zahhar had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

‘Again… as a dragon…?’

It was tempting.

No, it was more than just tempting.

Zahhar barely suppressed the longing that surged up to his throat and asked coldly.

“How can I trust your words?”

It was natural suspicion.

Zahhar was an undead chimera created by Hodupayi.

The master-servant relationship was clear.

Even if Zahhar cooperated, if Hodupayi later went back on his word, there would be nothing he could do.

That’s why he needed a definite answer.

“Besides.”

Zahhar’s voice became even sharper.

“Even if you have such intentions, is obtaining a dragon’s corpse an easy task?”

“…”

“My body was already used as a vessel for The Second Apostle. So how exactly do you plan to restore me?”

Hiss-.

After finishing his words, Zahhar breathed out roughly.

In truth, he was secretly hoping.

That Hodupayi would give him a clear guarantee.

At least the Hodupayi that Zahhar knew wasn’t someone who made promises without any assurance.

He was a talent who thoroughly met Ataraxy’s demands even within tight budgets.

He was also a Black Mage who always kept his word.

“Hmm.”

But right at that moment.

Swish-.

Hodupayi turned to look at Dorico Shiro beside him and asked in a flustered voice.

“What should I do? I didn’t expect him to ask in such detail.”

“…?”

Thud-.

While Zahhar made a dumbfounded expression.

Dorico Shiro shouted as if frustrated.

“Hey, you idiot! What are you doing standing there dumbfounded!”

“No, what the…”

“Even if it was a lie, you should have answered something! Why are you so bad at thinking on your feet!”

Dorico Shiro sighed deeply and continued.

“Phew, forget it. Zahhar. Can’t you just come with us to Ravenhil and help? We were friends once, after all.”

“W-wait a minute… Then the promise about making me a dragon again was…”

“Obviously a lie. As you said, obtaining a dragon’s corpse isn’t easy, is it?”

“…”

“Even if we managed to get one with great difficulty, it would be much more efficient to make other chimeras rather than waste it on reviving you, right?”

…Now he didn’t even have the energy to get angry.

* * *

It was the moment I returned to the Relic Investigation Team’s camp with the group.

Ding-!

A private message came to Muwolcha.

As the most recently possessed player, her functions were limited.

She was at the stage where she could only use emoticons and empathy.

[Muwolcha] : (´･ω･`)?

Of course.

I could sufficiently understand what she wanted to say just from that.

Like with Strawberry Latte, the years I’d spent with her were also quite long.

‘It seems like she’s asking how I made the Sword Masters of the Divided Soul so obedient…’

Well.

That’s a simple matter.

‘You know what, sis.’

Originally, the most efficient way to reform a spoiled child is to use the rod.

I activated Soul of the Sword Master while burning through all 10 MP.

During those 0.1 seconds, I showed Balhwan an overwhelming wall.

The result?

It was successful.

Balhwan acknowledged my skills and became docile like that.

However.

‘…That’s not everything.’

Swoosh-.

When I turned my gaze to the side, I saw Adelia.

She still had an expression as if lost in deep thought.

In fact, if subduing Balhwan was the only goal, there was no need to consume all 10 MP.

I could have subdued that guy with much less mana.

Yet the reason I consumed all my mana on this skill was…

‘Because I wanted to show Adelia clearly.’

True Sword Master swordsmanship.

The realm she must reach.

The wall she must overcome in the future.

Swordsmanship ‘visible’ enough to follow with the eyes. But a realm absolutely impossible to imitate right now.

And Adelia, who witnessed this…

【Lv. 94】

…couldn’t achieve any change.

“…”

Well, it’s an expected result.

From level 90 onwards, advancing to the next level becomes extremely difficult.

It means this isn’t a section where you can grow immediately just by seeing or realizing something.

To climb one step required a long time, deep contemplation, and a decisive moment.

‘If Adelia had suddenly leaped over the wall here, it would have actually been problematic.’

Too rapid growth would weaken the foundation and had a high possibility of leading Adelia in the wrong direction.

That’s why what I wanted now wasn’t Adelia’s growth.

‘Blooming.’

Yes.

That was the goal.

Revenge, longing, inferiority complex, awe. The moment when all kinds of emotions pile up layer by layer and finally explode all at once.

Only then would Adelia truly be reborn as a genuine seeker.

─The Protagonist… doesn’t seem to see us as the same kind of people.

“…”

Suddenly, the conversation from that night came to mind.

The words that Adelia, and Yeonwoo the Feathered Sword, had thrown at me.

Since then, worries had followed one after another.

Was it really right for me to lead her, who was no longer a game character but a real person, in the direction I wanted?

Wasn’t I making her move like a piece on a chessboard? Wasn’t I treating her as a tool?

‘But.’

Just before departing for Ravenhil.

I had confided these worries to Sister Muwolcha.

And as expected.

Sister Muwolcha had instantly organized my complicated thoughts.

─Don’t think too hard about it. Being influenced by others and having your life change is the same for people too.

Hearing those words, I realized.

It wasn’t only NPCs in games who were influenced by others.

Thinking about it, real humans were the same. They inherited values from parents, learned preferences from friends, and found their path from teachers.

Someone’s single word could change a life, and a scene witnessed by chance could become a lifelong goal.

All of that was ‘influence.’

Natural change created within relationships with others.

‘Then…’

The influence I had on Adelia was also just one of many connections.

It was she who followed me after seeing me at the Underground Fighting Arena. In that moment, Adelia had chosen for herself. To be influenced by me. To stand by my side.

Therefore, I just needed to influence Adelia as she had chosen.

Whether to accept, reject, or how to digest my intentions was entirely her burden to bear.

And I believed without doubt.

That Adelia would surely be reborn as the perfect Sword Master this world needed.

* * *

Less than an hour after returning to the camp, we gathered inside the tent.

People packed tightly into the narrow space. The Koshat Siblings and Captain Yaakov took positions around the table, with several officials from the Relic Investigation Team standing behind them.

Adelia and Muwolcha stood near the entrance, while the Sword Masters each claimed comfortable spots.

Swish-.

The Relic Investigation Team’s map of Ravenhil was spread across the table.

Several lanterns brought from the campfire illuminated the inside of the tent, and candlelight flickered, creating shadows.

“Balhwan.”

Clatter-.

Pean carefully placed the 「Opener」 he had taken from his chest onto the table.

The ancient key emitted a subtle radiance under the candlelight.

“Is there a place in Ravenhil where this key might be used?”

“…”

“…”

The Girl in Black Robe and the Boy in White Robe simultaneously reached out their hands.

The two children, each grasping the key with one hand, silently gazed at it.

Time passed for a while.

The tent fell into silence, with only the faint sound of crows cawing in the distance.

How much more time passed like this?

The twin siblings slowly raised their heads, their eyes turning toward Pean.

“Before that.”

The Boy in White Robe spoke in a coldly subdued voice.

“What is your reason for wanting to explore the ancient Rashutku Empire?”

The atmosphere became subtly tense.

Captain Yaakov, wearing a rather cautious expression, began explaining the reason on everyone’s behalf.

“Bun-hon, exploring ancient ruins has tremendous meaning in itself. It’s about retracing history and recovering lost knowledge. Above all…”

Yaakov, who had caught his breath for a moment, continued the story step by step in a careful voice.

“This is the site of the most prosperous ancient empire. So, who knows what treasures might be hidden here?”

The Balhwan siblings simultaneously tilted their heads slightly as if they didn’t understand.

“It’s still not convincing. Do you truly think that intact artifacts would remain in ruins buried under mountains of corpses for thousands of years?”

“That’s…”

“They’re perfectly preserved.”

Thud-.

I interrupted and cut in.

All eyes in the tent turned to me at once.

Pean slightly raised an eyebrow, and faint steam leaked from Jeungmu’s body.

Yaakov and the Koshat Siblings also looked at me with slightly surprised expressions.

“How can you guarantee that…”

“We asked the question first.”

“…”

“We asked if you knew of a place where this Opener could be used.”

Hesitation-.

The Balhwan siblings’ eyes simultaneously narrowed.

Their expressions clearly showed displeasure.

However, they couldn’t rebel any further.

The siblings, showing signs of resignation, simultaneously shook their heads.

“No suitable place comes to mind. And even if we had witnessed such a place, the information would have been meaningless.”

“…”

“This forest changes its structure every time. Trees grow, land rises, and corpses pile up, changing the terrain itself.”

The Girl in Black Robe concluded her words while pushing the key toward Pean.

“Therefore, the location of the ‘entrance’ you seek is probably changing every time as well.”

Along with silence, the atmosphere in the tent grew heavy.

If even Balhwan, who knew Ravenhil best, didn’t know the entrance?

It was practically the same as having to start an endless treasure hunt, searching the entire forest.

At least, that’s what everyone present was thinking.

“Here.”

Tap-.

I casually touched the map of Ravenhil spread on the table.

My fingertip precisely pointed to one spot on the map.

“There’s an entrance here.”

“…?”

“…?”

All eyes turned to me at once.

Right.

As Balhwan said, the terrain of Ravenhil constantly changes.

‘But the entrance leading to the Ruins of Rashutku is an exception.’

And as I mentioned before.

I knew the location of that entrance well.

“Lord Gaon, what on earth do you mean….”

Captain Yaakov asked in a bewildered voice.

Not only that, but everyone else was also looking at me with puzzled expressions.

How do you know the location of the entrance?

Did you know it all along?

Then why did the Sword Masters of the Divided Soul bring us all the way here?

While various questions were swirling around.

Clap-!

Before anyone could speak up, the sound of applause rang out.

“Wow! As expected of Lord Gaon!”

“….”

“….”

Pean smiled brightly and exclaimed in a cheerful voice with admiration.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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